The idea was to speed up response time to fires but it required two men to pedal and was heavy owing to amount of equipment it needed to carry (see advertisement).
He also gave advice throughout the UK on the formation, organisation, and equipment of fire brigades.
This ingenious machine is the outcome of the combined experience of Mr W M GLENISTER, Chief Constable of Hastings and Captain of one of the most popular Volunteer Fire Brigades in this country - together with that of Mr. J. C. MERRYWEATHER, of the firm of MERRYWEAYHER & SONS, London. The apparatus consists of a specially built tricycle, combing the greatest possible lightness, with strength and suitability, for the special service for which it is designed ; the driving gear is arranged for quick speed and at the same time, hills may be mounted with facility.
The following is the gear carried with the machine : - One stand-pipe, one branch-pipe, one dam (forming a basket for carrying the hose, &c.)five 50ft lengths of oak bark; tanned canvas hose, one small fire engine of a capacity of 12 gallons per minute, with sucjtion and delivery hose, one light portable fire escape, one jumping net, six canvas buckets, one pair of hand lamps, hose wrenches, spanners, & c.. (Advertisement, c.1887)
